Time-controlled circuit-breaker.



APPLIOA'IION FILED NOV.2'7,1912.

Patented Sept. 15, 1914.

I N"1CNTO R 170 az's flfeiewa WITNESSES:

STATES PA ENT OFFICE.

\ LOUIS S. PETERS, OF ALAMEDA, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-THIRD T0FREDERICK E. COLLINS, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA. I

' TIME-CONTROLLED CIRCUIT-BREAKER.

Specification .of Letters Patent. Application fllcgl November 27, 1912.Serial No. 783,838.

Patented Sept. 15,1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. LOUIS S. PETERS, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alameda, in the'county of Alameda and State of Qalifornia,have invented new and useful Improvements in Time-Controlled Circuit-Bre'akers, of which the following is a specifi'cation. t

This invention relates to means for automatically breaking an electriccircuit.

The object of the resent invention is to provide an automatic, reliable,adjustable means in combination with the sparking circuit of an internalcombustion engine, whereby, in the event that the circuit of the engineremains closed for a given period of time the apparatus will operate tobreak the clrcuit. g

It is a further object of the present invention to provide acircuit-breaking device having connections for an electric circuit, in-

cluding a magnet formed by a spark coil in the circuit, a movablearmature with means for normallyholding the armature in restraint, andproviding a switch member eng'ageable by the armature or a portionthereof, and to provide atimin device for restraining the movement o thearmature when the spark coilin energized.

In internal combustion engines using a I make and breaksparking system,it sometimes happens that. the engine will stop with the sparkingdevices'in contact, thus leaving a closed circuit, which, it means werenot provided, would soon deplete the battery of its electrical energy,and'my invention is designedwith the-object in view ofautomatically'breaking the circuit in the event that the engine stopswith the make and break sparking device in contact.

The invention consists in combination with a sparking circuit of aninternal-combustion engine, ofa removable switch memv ber, magneticmeans includinga spark coil, for disengaging the switch member from itscomplementary brushes, and a-timing means for restraining the movementof the magnetic means;

The invention further consists of the parts and the construction andcombinationof parts as hereinafter more fully described and claimed,having reference to the accompanying drawings, Wh 10h--the anelevational partly sectioned view of the a plate 11;-the switch figureis p apparatus, showing a motor circuit in diagram.

' In its illustrated arrangement, I have shown a suitable casing 2, inwhich is'substantially incased a spark coil having pole pieces 3, thecoil 4 of the magnet having terminals 5-5 connected in series with theignition circuit 6 of an internal combustion motor 7, in which thesparking is produced by a make and break mechanism, or other device. v

One of the terminals 5 of the magnet is connectedbby a conductor 8 to aportion of the structure so that current will be conducted to a switcharm 9 pivoted at 10 upon arm 9 being subjected to the tension of aspring 12, the function of which is to hold the switch out of contactwith contact brushes 13 -13', which may be mounted upon and insulatedfrom the plate 11, and to which brushes is connected a continuation ofthe conductor 8, which forms a part of-the engine circuit 6.

-The casing 2 is provided with suitable binding posts 14 to which thelead wire 8 and lead wire 8' trom the coil may be attached. Pivoted uponone of the magnet poles 5, as at 15, is an armature 16, the shorter "endof which is under the pull or controlling action of a spring 17, and thelonger end of which is connected at 18 to a piston 19 movable in adash-pot or cylinder 20; the armature 16 being .provided with aprojection or extension 21 adapted, when the armature moves, toencounter the swltch 9 and push it from the holding engagement of thecontact brushes 13.

In order that the movement of the arma-.

energized .the cylinder 20 is charged with a volume 0 liquid againstwhich the piston 1-9 is forced when the magnet is energized and thearmature 16 moves, and the speed of movement of the piston 19 in thecylinder 20 is controlled by aneedle or other valve 22 mounted intheside of the cylinder'20, and controlling the escape of fluid from belowthe piston 19 through a by-pass 23 to the upper portion of the cylinder,or above the iston 19. When the valve 22 is so adjusted as to allow thepassage of only a small quantity of the fluid in the cylinder 20, thenthe movement/of the armature under the attraction of the energized ma etwill be comparatively slow so that be ore the extension or pusher 21, ofthe armature 16, moves into engagement with the switch arm 9, a givenperiod of time will have elapsed.

Upon the breaking of the sparking circuit by the disengagement of theswitch arm from its contact 13, the magnet is de'e'nergized and thearmature under the pull of the spring 17 will retract the piston 19,this action occurring freely, substantially without resistance from theliquid in the cylinder by reason of the automatic opening 'of a reliefvalve 24, yieldably held against the lower surface of the piston 19 by aspring;

25, or other equivalent means, which will operate to permit the piston19 to be retracted relatively freely.

In operation, when the engine circuit has been connected to theterminals 55 of the apparatus, these being in turn connected to the coilby the conductors 8 and 8, then when the operator adjusts the switch 9in engagement with the contact brushes 18, the ignition circuit will becomplete. In the event that the engine stops with the sparle ing devicein contact, the coil being energized by reason of its connection inseries with the engine circuit, will attract the armature16, themovement of which will be resisted to a speed variable by means of theadjustable needle valve 22, past'which the liquid in the cylinder 20will be forced by the downward movement of piston 19 under the pressureof the attracted armature 16.

It is understood that by adjusting the valve 22 the pusher 21 of thearmature 16 may be restrained so that it will not more into contact withthe switch 9 for the desired'length of time, say three (3) minutes, andthen the continued movement of the armature 16 and the pusher 21 willforce the switch arm 9 out of engagement with the brushes 13, and thusbreak the spark circuit and conserve the energy of the source ofelectrical supply.-

By this invention it is possible to automatically cut out the sparkingcircuit when the sparking devices remain in contact a additionalcurrent.

given period of time, and this is accom.-

plished by using the magnetic force generated when the coil isenergized, thus avoiding the use of any extraneous magnets or Thecontact. 13 is foreonnection with a magneto 26. The pivot witnesses.

or shaft 10 of the switch is provided. with a handle indicator 10. 1

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Iatent, is w 1. A time controlled circuit breaker including amagnet in series with a circuit to be broken, a stationary verticalplate at one side of the magnet, a switch arm having a T-shaped headpivoted at one end to said plate so as to oscillate vertically, contactson the plate to engage the respective free ends of said T-shaped head,spring means which engage the top and bottom faces of said arm to holdthe latter out of engagement with the contacts, am armature pivotedbetween its ends to the upper end of one of the magnet poles, a coilspring connected to the rear end of said armature and to the lower endof said pole piece, a member projecting downwardly from said armatureand adapted to have its free end engage said arm at a point between itsends, and cushioning means between the front end of said ment with saidarm at a point between the ends of the arm, and retarding meanssupported by the opposite magnet pole and con nected to the front end ofthe armature.

3. A time controlledcircuit breaker includin a magnet in series with acircuit to be bro (en, a pivoted switch arm, a pair of spacedindependent contacts between which the free end of the arm oscillates,an arma ture pivotallymounted above said arm in spaced relation thereto,a member projectingdownwardly from said armature and adapted to engagesaid arm adjacent its free end, and retarding means connected to the"free end of the armature.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twosubscribing LOUIS S. PETERS. Witnesses:

, WILLIAM J. KELLY,

AUGUSTA A. WALKER.

